Selector mechanism for merchandise vending machine



July 23, 1968 W. C. PHILLIPS ETAL Original Filed Nov. 30, 1964 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE s Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS Roosmcu W. PHILLIPS WILLIAM H. by.

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SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 30, 1964 July 23, 6 w. c. PHILLIPS ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS C PHILLIPS W, PHILLIPS (nu/VAN H Mm WRW N O n M N3 W 3 13919333" N .7 N3 in N am m5: 9n m N8 w W Q3 a 1 l w NM-M i 1 mm (v.nvl [QR ffi 1 L M awn W N m 1M mm Nm r :7 0mm mm mwmm QM I 7 I n3 3% in Q2 3m in Q3 3n y 1968 w. c. PHILLIPS ETAL 3,393,830

SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 30, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS Rousmck W. PI-IILLIPs WILLIAM H. ALLAHAN w United States Patent Oihce 3,393,830 Patented July 23, 1968 3,393,830 SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE William Charles Phillips, Roderick W. Phillips, and William H. Callahan, Aurora, 11]., assignors to Lektro- Vend Corp., Aurora, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Original application Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 435,763, now Patent No. 3,314,299. Divided and this application Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,352

6 Claims. (Cl. 221-125) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanism for use in multi-article vending machines to permit selection of any particular article by the customer. The mechanism includes inhibit means which prevent movement of any selector pushbutton after a particular selection has been made and locking means for retaining the activated pushbutton until completion of the vend cycle. Also included are sensor means which cooperate with the vending delivery door to prevent the making of any selection when the door is open.

This invention relates to mechanisms for permitting customer selection of any of a variety of articles being sold in a vending machine and more particularly to a selector mechanism for use in vending machines of the type shown in application Ser. No. 252,630, filed I an. 21, 1963, now Patent No. 3,164,294, and in co-pending application Ser. No. 435,763, filed Nov. 30', 1964, now Patent No. 3,314,299. This application is a division of said prior applications.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved selector mechanism for multi-article vending machines which is durable, trouble free and positive acting to achieve the desired results.

Another object is to afford a selector mechanism of the character described having means for thwarting felonious abuse when, for example, a would-be pilferer atempts to activate the mechanism without inserting any money.

A further object is to provide a selector mechanism of the character described having means for permitting only one customer selection at a time to prevent possible cheating and abuse of the vending machine.

Still another object is to provide a selector mechanism of the character described having associated therewith a delivery door interlock assembly which prevents operation of the mechanism and selection of an article when the delivery door is not closed.

Yet another object is to afford a selector mechanism of the character described having movable anti-theft means associated with said delivery door interlock assembly adapted to prevent a would-be pilferer from reaching through the delivery door to unauthorizedly remove articles from the vending machine storage area.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises generally a support member having a plurality of selector or pushbnttons reciprocably connected thereto. Actuator pin assemblies are connected to the inner end of each push button, and are slidably received within parallel slots formed in the support member. Enlarged washers are slidably received in other slots arranged normal to the first slots and positioned so that adjacent pairs of the washers are adapted to prevent movement of the actuator pins in their slots. Also, the washers are dimensioned so that only one actuator pin can be moved in its slot at any given time. Associated with each of the actuator pins is a locking cam which is connected to a locking bar and the latter is in turn connected to a solenoid. As any actuator pin is moved for a selection, it actuates a micro-switch which energizes the solenoid to lock that pin into operational position until completion of the vending cycle. Each actuator pin assembly also includes a delivery door sensor which is adapted to be activated by the delivery door to prevent operation of the selector when the door is open.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, our invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

-FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vending machine in which the selector mechanism and cooperating delivery door interlock assembly of the invention is incorporated;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vending machine with the front door swung open;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partially cut away fragmentary top view of one end of the selector mechanism of the invention and showing the same in a de-energized condition;

FIG. 4 is a similar view, but showing the selector mechanism in an energized condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front-elevational view, partially in section, showing portions of the solenoid lock in assembly;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a selector push button and cooperating associated parts;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but of the other end of the selector mechanism and showing the relative position of the non-activated push buttons and related parts after another push button has activated the mechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the vending machine showing the delivery door interlock assembly and its relation to the selector mechanism.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a vending machine 10 comprising a rectangularly shaped cabinet 12 provided with a front door 14 hinged as at 16. Inside the cabinet 12, there are positioned two candy-pastry units 20, 22 and their associated assemblies which have been thoroughly described in the aforementioned applications and comprise no part of the subject invention. The merchandise in the units 20 and 22 is visible to the customer through windows 56 provided in the door 14. Also positioned within the cabinet 12 is a machine support and door stop assembly 500 which was described in the said Patent No. 3,164,294, and likewise forms no part of the present invention.

Positioned on the front door 14 is the candy-pastry selector mechanism 46. A mint-gum unit '42 is mounted in the cabinet 12 and has associated therewith a mint-gum selector mechanism 48 which is likewise mounted on the door 14. These mechanisms 46 and 48 activate the vending machine to begin its cycle to dispense the desired goods to the purchaser as will be seen more clearly. Also positioned on the door 14 is the delivery door interlock assembly 400. The delivery door interlock assembly 400 fits up against and is in operable contact with the delivery door 54 positioned on the front door 14 as best shown in FIG. 8. The delivery door interlock assembly 400 is so arranged that no selection can be made of any goods from the candy-pastry units if the delivery door 54 is not in a closed position and also the delivery door interlock assembly 400 is so constructed that one cannot open the delivery door when a selector knob of the candy-pastry selector 46 is in a depressed position as will be shown.

The selector mechanisms The candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 and the mintgum selector mechanism 48 are functionally equivalent although they need not be physically identical in every detail. For example, the configuration of the buttons that are activated in the candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 may not be of the same shape as those in the mint-gum selector mechanism 48. In FIG. 1, the buttons of the mint-gum selector mechanism 48 are circular in configura tion and the buttons of the candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 are generally rectangular in configuration and also the candy-pastry selector mechanism is inclined to the front face of the front door 14.

Reference is had to FIGS. 3 through 7 wherein the candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 is illustrated. The candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 comprises a rectangular selector support member 300 extending almost the entire length of the mechanism and on which the various components of the mechanism 46 are mounted. A plurality of selector push buttons 302 are mounted through the front face 304 of the rectangular selector support member 300 and extend through the rear face 306 of the rectangular selector support member 300. The plurality of selector push buttons 302 each have formed thereon a first spring actuator 308, a second spring actuator 310, and a retainer pin 312. Spring actuators 308 and 310 and the retainer pin 312 of the selector push button 302 can all be of circular configuration and the particular procedure used for rigidly securing the said actuators and pin to the selector push button 302 within the rectangular selector support member 300 is not of inventive importance as this can be done by any means known to those skilled in the art.

Slida'bly positioned with respect to the rectangular selector support member 300 are a plurality of selector actuator assemblies 314. The selector actuator assemblies 314 are positioned in and guided by a plurality of actuator slots 316 which are elongated in configuration as can be clearly seen. The selector actuator assemblies 314 each comprise an L-shaped clutch plate 318 and an actuator pin assembly 320 positioned on the inside of the rectangular selector support member 300. The actuator pin assembly 320 comprises a fiat plate 322 connected to the L- shaped clutch plate 318 by a plurality of rivets extending through the actuator slot 316 and an actuator pin 324. Positioned between the L-shaped clutch plate 318 in the selector actuator assembly 312 and the first spring actuator 308 of the selector push button 302 is a clutch spring 326.

In order to prevent the actuation of the selector mechanism when the delivery door '54 is open, a delivery door sensor 328 is connected to the clutch plate 318 by any means and is positioned relative to clutch plate 318 as can be seen in FIG. 6. The function and purpose of the delivery door sensor 328 will be explained more fully.

Positioned between the second spring actuator 310 of the selector push button 302 and the rear wall 306 of the rectangular selector support member 300 is return spring 332. The return spring 332 is not as strong as the clutch spring 326 and the reason therefore will be explained later.

Positioned on the upperside of the rectangular selector support member 300 as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 are a plurality of anti-cheat washers 334. The anti-cheat washers 334 have a large circular face 336 and a small circular face 338 positioned on opposite sides of associated elongated anti-cheat slots 340 formed in the rectangular selector support member 300 as can be clearly seen in the drawings. The large circular face 336 and the small circular face 338 of the anti-cheat washers 334 are joined together through elongated anti-cheat slot 340 by a rivet or any other appropriate means. The elongated anti-cheat slots 340 are formed in the rectangular selector support member 300 and extend parallel to the longest sides thereof as can be seen in the drawings. The diameter of the large circular face 336 of the anti-cheat washers 334 and the length of the elongated anti-cheat slots 340 are so related that when an actuator pin 324 is pushed between two adjacent anti-cheat washers 334, no other actuator pin 324 of any actuator pin assembly 320 can be inserted between any two adjacent anti-cheat washers 334. Also, it is impossible to have two actuator pins 324 inserted simultaneously between any two adjacent anti-cheat washers 334 inasmuch as there is not enough room.

Associated with each actuator pin assembly 320 is a locking cam 342. Each locking cam 342 is pivotally connected to the rectangular selector support member 300 by a first pivot pin assembly 344 of any known type. Each locking cam 342 is further connected to a common locking bar 346 by a second pivot pin assembly 348 which also can be of any known type. A microswitch mounting plate 350 is welded or otherwise connected to the rectangular support member 300 and is provided with a plurality of actuator pin slots 352 which permit the actuator pin 324 of the actuator pin assemblies 320 to freely move in their associated actuator slots 316. Positioned on the micro-switch mounting plate 350 are a pair of microswitches 354 and 356 which can be utilized to lock in the locking bar solenoid 360 as will be explained. Each locking cam 342 has formed therein a cam surface 358 adapted to cause the lateral movement of the locking bar 346 When the associated actuator pin 324 engages the cam surface 358. all as will be explained.

After the selector mechanism has been assembled as previously described, it operates and functions in the following manner. When a purchaser desires to select a particular item corresponding to a pre-determined selector push button 302, the purchaser pushes a selected selector push button 302 inwardly, as viewed in the drawings. Rigidy connected second spring actuator 310 compresses the return spring 332 and the selector push button 302 continues its inward movement. The second spring actuator 310 of the selector push button 302 moves away from the upright face of the L-shaped clutch plate 318. However, the clutch spring 326 exerts a force against the opposite side of the upright face of the L-shaped clutch plate 318 and also drives the clutch plate 313 in an inward direction, thus the selector actuator assembly 314 moves inwardly, causing the actuator pin assembly 320, including the actuator pin 324 to move inwardly through the actuator pin slot 352 of the micro-switch mounting plate 350 and the actuator slots 316 of the rectangular selector support member 300, and the actuator pin 324 also moves against the cam surface 358 of the locking cam 342. As the actuator pin 324 bears against the cam surface 358 of the locking cam 342 as it moves inwardly it moves the locking earn 342 to the left in a clockwise movement thus moving the locking bar 346 to the right, as viewed in the drawings, FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. Inasmuch as every locking cam 342 is pivotally connected to the locking bar 346 they must all move with the locking bar 346 thus forcing all the remainder of the locking cams 342 to be rotated to the left or clockwise as the locking bar 346 is moved to the right. The final position of the actuator locking cam 342 and associated actuator pin 324 associated with the selected push button 302 is illustrated in FIG. 4, and the final position of the remainder of the actuator pins 324 and locking cams 342 associated with the unselected push buttons 302 is shown in FIG. 7.

As the actuator pin 324 moves between the anti-cheat washers 334, each washer to the left of the actuator pin 324 is moved so that it is positioned as far to the left in its associated elongated anti-cheat slot 340 as is possible and each anti-cheat washer 334 to the right of the energized actuator pin 324 is moved as far to the right in its associated elongated anti-cheat slot 340 as is possible.

Thereafter, no other actuator pin 324 can move between any anti-cheat washers 334 until the actuator pin 324 has been released from its inward activated position.

During its inward movement, the actuator pin 324 energizes its pair of associated micro-switches 354 and 356, thus energizing the locking bar solenoid 360. The energization of locking bar solenoid 360 exerts a force on the locking bar 346 to help maintain the locking bar to the right, as viewed in the drawings, therefore locking in the actuator pin 324.

Delivery door interlock assembly 400 A vending machine incorporating the features of the invention is provided with a delivery door assembly 400 comprising an inner delivery tray 51 and an outer delivery tray 52 and a delivery door 54, best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8 and readily secured in the vending machine 10 by any means. The candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 is constructed with a delivery door sensor 328 to prevent the vending of any merchandise from the candypastry units 20 and 22 when the delivery door 54 is in an open position. The delivery door 54 is also constructedzso that when it is in its open position, a potential pilferer cannot gain access to the merchandise within the vending machine.

Referring to the drawings, especially FIGS. 2 and 8, there is shown an inner delivery tray 51 secured in the vending machine 10 below the candy-pastry units 20 and 22 and onto which the merchandise in the vending machine falls during dispensing of the merchandise to the purchaser. The merchandise travels down inclined inner delivery tray 51 to the outer delivery tray 52 formed on front door 14 and under the delivery door 54. The delivery door 54 is pivotally attached to the front door 14 at pivot points 402 on each end of the delivery door 54. When delivery door 54 is opened it moves upwardly and inwardly exposing the delivery tray 52 to the purchaser. The delivery door 54 is shaped somewhat like a sector of cylinder and pivots about pivot points 402 and moves upwardly and rearwardly as viewed in the drawings. The delivery door 54 has an extended tab portion 404 integrally formed thereon for easy gripping by the purchaser for opening and closing of the delivery door 54. The delivery door assembly 400 is also composed of a bottom extended portion 406 that extends forwardly from the front door 14 and which is shaped so as to provide a delivery door stop portion 408. A delivery door position bracket 410 is pivotally connected to brackets (not shown) that are secured to the front door 14 of vending machine 10 and the delivery door position bracket 410 is pivotal about pivot points 412. The delivery door position bracket 410 has a downwardly extending activator leg 414 and a delivery door sensor engaging member 416. The delivery door position bracket 410* is normally spring biased to the position shown in FIG. 8 and by a plurality of tension springs 411.

When the delivery door 54 is opened and moved upwardly and inwardly, the outside of the delivery door 54 moves past the downwardly extending activator leg 414 of the delivery door position bracket 410. If a push button 302 in the selector mechanism 46 is then depressed the delivery door sensor 328 thereof moves downward and engages the delivery door sensor engaging member 416 and rotates the delivery door position brackets 410 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8. The downwardly extending activator leg 414 of the delivery door position bracket 410 will quickly engage the outside of the delivery door 54 and further movement thereof is arrested. Thereafter the delivery door sensor engaging member 416 will remain held in contact with the delivery door sensor 328 of the selector push buttons 302. The actuator pin assembly 320 of the push button 302 cannot move as movement is blocked by the second spring actuator 310 (see FIG. 6). The second spring actuator 310 is not capable of moving because it is rigidly connected to the delivery door sensor 328, which is stopped from movement by contact with engaging member 416. Thus it can be seen that when the delivery door 54 is open, the candypastry selector mechanism 46 is inoperative. The push buttons 302 themselves will move in and out against the clutch spring 326 and the return spring 332 but the actuator pin assembly 320 will not move.

Pivotally connected at pivot point 418 on each side of the delivery door 54 are a pair of extension arms 420. The extension arms 420 are pivotally connected at pivot points 422 to the outside of a somewhat N-shaped antipilfering bracket 424 which is movable from its normal position to its blocking position, as shown in solid and dotted lines respectively in FIG. 8. If a potential pilferer opens the delivery door 54 and attempts to extend his hand into the vending machine, the N-shaped anti-pilfering bracket 424 will prevent the pilferer from having any opportunity to dislodge any of the merchandise from its stored position on the shelves of the pastry units 20 or 22.

If a push button 302 is pushed in and the door 54 is properly closed the delivery door sensor 328 thereof will cause the delivery door position bracket 410 to pivot and rotate about pivot points 412 thus causing the downwardly extending activator leg 414 to rotate around the inside end of delivery door 54 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8. As has been explained when a push button 302 causes the solenoid 360 to be activated it is locked in its active position until solenoid 360 is deenergized. Therefore, it will be impossible to open the delivery door 54 until the vend cycle has been completed and the solenoid 360 is deenergized. Thereafter springs 411 will rotate the delivery door position bracket 410 to its normal position.

Operation The candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 8. The mint-gum selector mechanism 48 is almost exactly the same except that no delivery door sensor 328 is provided. Assume, for example, that the candy-pastry mechanism 46 is activated. The purchaser initially chooses the item or article of merchandise that he or she desires and then inserts the correct amount of change into the vending machine 10. The change is delivered to an accumulator and escrow circuit (not shown) where the change is recorded and stored in escrow pending further action by the purchaser in either selecting a desired article of merchandise or in pushing the coin-return push button (not shown) which in turn relays this information to a price change board (not shown).

Next, the candy-pastry selector mechanism 46 is activated by the inward movement of any of the selector push buttons 302. As was previously explained, the anticheat washers 334 and the elongated anti-cheat slots 340 are so arranged that only one actuator pin 324 can move between these anti-cheat washers 334. Any effort by a purchaser to depress two selector push buttons 302 would not meet with success inasmuch as two actuator pins 324 cannot fit simultaneously between the anti-cheat washers 334. As the selector push button 302 moves inwardly of the rectangular selector support member 300, the return spring 332, which is not as strong as the clutch spring 326 compresses. The second spring actuator 310 moves in with the selector push button 302 and the L- shaped clutch plate 318 is moved inwardly with the first spring actuator 308 under force from the clutch spring 326, thus moving the actuator pin assembly 320 rigidly connected to the L-shaped clutch plate 318 including the actuator pin 324 inwardly. The actuator pin 324 therefore moves in the actuator pin slot 352 of the microswitch mounting plate 350 and activates the pair of microswitches 354 and 356. One of the pair of micro-switches 354, 356 closes the circuit (not shown) to the locking bar solenoid 360, thus moving the locking bar 346 farther to the right as viewed in the drawings. This helps pivot all the locking cams 342 to the left, or rotates the locking cams 342 clockwise, thus retaining the actuator pin 344 of the activated selector push button 392 in the position as illustrated in FIG. 4 and thus positioning all the remainder of the actuator pins 324 of the selector push buttons 302 in the position as illustrated in FIG. 7. The selector push button 302 which has been activated Will remain in the position as illustrated in FIG. 4 until the merchandise has been dispensed because a cycle hold in circuit (not shown) will maintain the locking bar solenoid 360 energized.

What has been described is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, ma y modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims which are intended to be limited only by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A selector mechanism comprising:

a plurality of push button assemblies;

a switch actuator assembly associated with each push button assembly and each switch actuator assembly capable of actuating at least one control switch;

a clutch mechanism interconnecting each push button assembly and its associated switch actuator assembly;

each clutch mechanism normally operably interconnecting its associated switch actuator assembly for movement with its associated push button assembly to activate the switch actuator assemblys associated switch;

inhibit means operated responsive to the movement of one of said switch actuator assemblies to prevent any operable movement by any other switch actuator assembly; and

a plurality of cam locking elements associated with said switch actuator assemblies and said plurality of cam locking elements interconnected such that movement of one of said cam locking elements causes an equal movement of the remainder of said cam locking elements, said cam locking elements each having a first and second interconnected section, electromagnetic means operably associated with all said cam locking elements and said control switches, the movement of any of said switch actuator assemblies from its first to its second interconnected section initially causing the movement of all of said cam locking elements at least until the moving one of said switch actuator assemblies moves into its second section to energize its associated control switch which energizes said electromagnetic means to cause all the switch actuator assemblies to move such that said moving one of said switch actuator assemblies will be secured in its second section and the remainder of said switch actuator assemblies will be secured in their first section, whereby movement of any of said switch actuator assemblies is thereafter inhibited until said electromagnetic means is de-energized.

2. The selector mechanism of claim 1 in which said inhibit means comprises a plurality of spaced elements positioned in the path of said switch actuator assembly and each element slidably movable out of the path of its associated switch actuator assembly and said spaced elements dimensioned such and their ability to move being limited such that when any switch actuator assembly moves past said spaced elements no other switch actuator assembly can move past said spaced elements.

3. The selector mechanism of claim 2 in which said spaced elements comprise a plurality of disks positioned in the paths of the switch actuator assemblies and each disk being slidably movable out of the path of its associated switch actuator assembly, each of said disks being positioned along a line extending through all said disks and capable of movement enabling it to touch its adjacent disks and the overall movement of all the disks being just sufiicient to enable only one switch actuator assembly to move past said disks.

4. The selector mechanism of claim 3 in which each of said clutch mechanisms comprises a spring positioned to exert a force pushing portions of both said push button assemblies and said switch actuator assemblies into contact with each other for normal movement together.

5. In a vending machine having associated therewith a selector mechanism mounted on one face of said vending machine and adjacent a delivery tray and wherein the articles of merchandise to be dispensed are accessible through said delivery tray the combination of:

a selector mechanism comprising:

a plurality of push button assemblies;

a switch actuator assembly associated with each push button assembly and each switch actuator assembly capable of actuating at least one control switch;

a clutch mechanism interconnecting each push button assembly and its associated switch actuator assembly;

each clutch mechanism normally operably interconnecting its associated switch actuator assembly for movement with its associated push button assembly to activate the switch actuator assemblys associated switch;

a pivotal vending door secured to said vending machine and normally positioned over said delivery tray to normally block access to said delivery tray;

a plurality of individual sensor means rigidly connected to said switch actuator assemblies and individually inhibiting movement of their associated switch actuator assemblies whenever blocked from movement themselves;

a blocking element pivotally secured to said vending machine and capable of being pivoted into engagement with all of said sensor means;

said blocking element so formed as to be engaged by said pivotal vending door and pivoted to be in engagement with all of said sensor means whenever said pivotal vending door is moved from its closed position over said delivery tray.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said sensor means comprises a plurality of individual rods.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,917 3/1957 Andrews et al. 22l125 X 3,058,613 10/1962 Kakauer et al. 2216 3,163,326 12/1964 Sabin et al. 221125X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

